REQ: Beginer's Guide Sennheiser ew100 G2

Jonathan_Healey

Jonathan_Healey

Well-known member
I just upgraded from using Azden's WLX-Pro lav package to two Sennheaiser ew100 G2 lav kits. One of which also has the hanheld mic transmitter. Now that I'm finally using a real lav system I need a quick, start-up guide and advice for using them.

At first I kind of thought it was a no brainer but the results haven't been a good as I think they can be. First off, I'm doing the majority of my shooting in midtown Manhattan (52nd/Broadway). Some at street level but most of it around the 34th floor. I realize I might be dealing with natural interference in this environment; however, surprisingly, my Azden never gave me an issues here. Most of my shoots are either host stand-ups or celebrity interviews. I've been holding castings over the last 2-days. It's providing me with a nice tune-up for the new gear.

With all of that being said, I'm hearing fuzziness in the headphones. It sound like signal noise. It's not distortion from peaking, When it's not doing this the lav sounds great. The noise reminds me of what my Azden would do when the battery was low.

Any advice? Was I clear enough? Here are my current settings:

• Freq: 660.900
• Pilot: On
• Squelch: Hi (seemed to help compared to factory set Lo)
• AF Out: -12
• Sensitivity: -10dB
 
A couple of things - where are you headphones connected? If you're running through a DVX100 for example, connected to the HP jack, you're going to hear noise that isn't being recorded.

Second, is the noise there when you listed to the tape captured?

Third, what lav are you using? The stock lavs with the G2 are not good. They may also introduce noise.

Phil
 
YOU HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO USING THE FREQUENCY SCANNING FEATURE ON THE G2s IN EVERY NEW LOCATION YOU GO TO. You can't just leave these units set at one frequency and hope for the best.

The link that was posted previously (the DV Creators Guy Cochrin Video) is a great primer on the freq scan procedure. Though I must say, the manual that comes with the units is also very clear.

Once you learn how to quickly scan for clear bands/channels, you should be in the clear. Oh, and get rid of the stock lav mics as well.

-Vic
 
Thanks everyone for the insight. It was very helpful. My second day of auditions was MUCH better.

@ptalsky
Headphones connected directly to HVX200. Noise is there on capture. Stock lavs.

Anyone wanna recommend some nice, directional lavs?
 
Do a search for the lavs - Countryman and Sanken are the favorites. What do you hear when you listen to the audio in your editor? Do you hear the same noise? I haven't spent much time listening out the HVX headphone jack, so I don't know if it is much of an improvement over the DVX.

Phil
 
Should I get the Countryman B-6 or the Sanken COS-11? I'm doing the following (mostly):

• Host stand-ups, walk-and-talks, reads etc
• Interviews

And maybe on occasion I'll use it with a boom to recordi an acoustic guitarist. But I can always use the stock mics for that as well. Lemme know your thoughts.
 
Honestly, for what you're going to be doing, I would go with the Countryman EMW. Since you are not doing narrative film, the primary benefit of the B6 (easy to hide in place sight since it is so small) is not really necessary. Also, I'm not sure how much more benefit you will get using the COS-11 with a G2.

If you can get down to NYC, you can probably go into B&H and sample each before you buy.

Phil
 
I have used the emw and cos-11. the cos-11 is a little nicer. But, I bought the EMW because of the price and I am perfectly happy with it. B&H doesn't have the emw for listening to. Not sure about the cos-11. You may want to rent them each and test them out.
 
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